Exchanging Cdn. currency to US on board ship

[athenagirl]

Does anyone know if Cdn. cash can be exchanged for US cash at the purser's desk?  We live in British Columbia and the banks charge 38%.  I noticed on cruise personalizer when you want to buy additional onboard credit, Princess exchange rate is 30%.  I mainly want to buy US currency for spending in ports.  I spoke to someone at Princess and she said yes you can buy US currency at the purser's desk, however I'm not quite convinced.  If I purchase extra onboard credit is there a way I can obtain cash through the casino slots?  I remember a few years ago someone mentioned this on the Princess forums but I've forgotten exactly how they went about it.  Would appreciate any input from other Cdn. cruisers.

[canadarocks]

Not sure about using the Casino. But the 30% exchange rate is only available online. If you exchange money onboard you'll incur (at best) the current exchange rate.

[tanyaewa]

There was a machine right next to guest services to change currencies on the Crown We changed US to Euros and CDN to US.  I didn’t pay much attention to the rates as the amounts weren’t significant.  38% to 30% on 100 $ is only 8$. I consider it a convenience fee.  Now if I we’re exchanging $10000 I might worry about my $800

 

but I did buy $200 US OBC at 25% CDN last summer and I bought 2x buckets of beer ahead of time at 25% because it was easy and I knew I would use it

Edited April 5, 2019 by tanyaewa

[riffatsea]

Where are you embarking?? Where are you going??

I ask because rates on any ship will be worse than just taking USA $$s out of an ATM with your local debit/atm card.

[hokiefans]

I believe the Customer Service staff will direct you to the ATM. 

[sailandshine]

Buy onboard credits online then when you need USD buy in at one of the casino tables, play a couple of hands then get up and leave. Cash the chips at the cashier.

[athenagirl]

44 minutes ago, riffatsea said:

Where are you embarking?? Where are you going??

I ask because rates on any ship will be worse than just taking USA $$s out of an ATM with your local debit/atm card.

We're embarking in Los Angeles and sailing to Vancouver.

[athenagirl]

9 minutes ago, sailandshine said:

Buy onboard credits online then when you need USD buy in at one of the casino tables, play a couple of hands then get up and leave. Cash the chips at the cashier.

Thank you!!  I believe I did this years ago after playing a slot machine but wasn't sure if this method of receiving cash is still allowed.  Am just wondering though if I use my credit card to buy extra onboard credit online wouldn't I be charged the exchange rate by the credit card company?

[Thrak]

You can always just use an ATM at any port stop to get USD.

[racj846]

^^^^^^ ...and the ATM rate will be much better than the Ship rate.

[caribill]

5 hours ago, tanyaewa said:

There was a machine right next to guest services to change currencies on the Crown We changed US to Euros and CDN to US. 

 

The exchange machine uses exchange rates that are very poor and that is before adding the service charge on each transaction. Between the service charge and the poor exchange rate, you will lose about 15% of the value of your money.

 

If they do the exchange at the Guest Services desk, it will have the same poor exchange rate and service charge.

[skynight]

You can play in the casino using OBC. But, they do expect you to play. The amount you lose or win, even if you only play a little, may not  be worth the few percentage points of exchange.

I would either use an ATM to get cash or a credit card at the ports.

[riffatsea]

When changing or getting foreign currency there is always either : a fee for doing this

                                                                                                      OR  a worse exchange rate

Sometimes there is both!

Here in the USA we have credit cards with no foreign exchange fees and ATM cards with no fees but in Canada you may not have those choices.

ATMs on land in all countries give the international bank rate for exchange which is the best rate you can get. Your own card may charge a fee for doing this and the ATM may charge a small fee for using it but it is almost always better than what you will get using the ship as an exchange bureau.

[phabric]

12 hours ago, athenagirl said:

Thank you!!  I believe I did this years ago after playing a slot machine but wasn't sure if this method of receiving cash is still allowed.  Am just wondering though if I use my credit card to buy extra onboard credit online wouldn't I be charged the exchange rate by the credit card company?

 

When you purchase OBC through Onboard Reservations, the exchange rate is already calculated.  If it says $130 CDN = $100 US, your credit card will be charged $130.

 

Purchase OBC online

go to the casino

open a casino account on a slot machine

transfer OBC from your account to your casino account

play so they can not say you are using as a cash machine

cash out your money to your casino account

go to cashier to cash out your casino account to get cash

[athenagirl]

12 hours ago, phabric said:

 

When you purchase OBC through Onboard Reservations, the exchange rate is already calculated.  If it says $130 CDN = $100 US, your credit card will be charged $130.

 

Purchase OBC online

go to the casino

open a casino account on a slot machine

transfer OBC from your account to your casino account

play so they can not say you are using as a cash machine

cash out your money to your casino account

go to cashier to cash out your casino account to get cash

Thank you for your step by step instructions😊